The DREAM Act Fails; But Our Dream Is Alive

June 30, 2014 Mario Guevara-Martinez

Published on 30 June 2014 Hits: 619

After successful passage in the House, the Senate failed to advance the bipartisan DREAM Act this morning. The legislation did not garner enough votes to overcome a procedural hurdle, even though with 55 votes it had the support of a majority of the chamber's lawmakers. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (the DREAM Act) is a piece of proposed federal legislation in the United States that was first introduced in 2001.

This bill would have provided a conditional pathway to legal permanent residence for certain unauthorized youth who, as children, were brought to the U.S. if they: complete high school; demonstrate good moral character; and complete at least two years of higher education or serve for at least two years in the U.S. military. J Global Law Group has supported and hopes for the passage of the DREAM Act in the near future. We believe it not only conforms to the universal humanitarian principles the United States subscribes to but also benefits the country socially, economically, and militarily.

First, minors are dependent on their parents to maintain lawful immigrant status. Their not having a lawful status is not their doing. Second, these undocumented minors, otherwise, have very limited paths to obtain a lawful status in the United States. Third, these minors, not having the freedom to travel, have usually lost ties with their home country and do not have a home other than the United States. Finally, bringing these undocumented aliens into the system through the DREAM Act, which contains several thought-out requirements, makes the society safer, allows more vigorous economic activities, and helps to increase the military recruitment. The United States military faced challenges in enlistment, which in 2005 were described as a "crisis". In fact, passage of the DREAM Act is one of the Department of Defense's official goals for helping to maintain a mission-ready, all-volunteer force. It is widely recognized that the U.S. immigration system needs to be reworked to become more efficient and to serve the country's interest better. As part of that effort, we hope you will continue to show interest and support for the DREAM Act so that it will become actualized some day.